Learned Ladies and Phunbags grace Fayetteville’s stages: Daily Do’s for Friday, February 19, 2010

The Mir space station was launched on this day in 1986.

Remember when the Russians were our mortal enemies. There was a consistency there.

Movies like Red Dawn (“Wolverines!”), Rocky IV (“I must break you,” says Ivan Drago) and Maverick’s famous middle finger in Top Gun were proof positive that the Soviets were ready to destroy the Great American Way.

Then, we were suddenly buddies after the wall came down.

Now, the Russians are that guy you invite out with you because of social obligation, never knowing if they are gonna flip on you or your other friends after a few shots of vodka.

I remember when the Mir space station was launched in 1986. It was the first manned space station and still holds the record for longest inhabited at 15 years.

It was seen as a body blow to our struggling NASA space program, especially since it came less than a month after our own Challenger disaster.

I still have vivid memories of sitting in Hugh Goodwin elementary in El Dorado watching what was meant as a triumphant and teachable moment for students turn into a fiery disaster.

Luckily, for the performers tonight on two of Fayetteville’s stages, no such disasters will occur.

Check out:

• Fayetteville own comedy improv troupe, Phunbags. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. tonight at UArk Ballroom and tickets are only $5. I know a few of these guys personally and world leaders should feel relief Phunbags turned their diabolical brilliance to comedy instead of conquest. Every show is unique because the improv is driven by audience participation. Very cool indeed.

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Phunbags, Fayetteville's own comedic improv group [Photo credit: C.E. Nelson of Nelsonfoto.com

• Moliere’s comedic skewering of academic pretension opens on the University Theatre at 8 p.m. tonight with The Learned Ladies. Student tickets are $3 for all Friday and Saturday shows. Tickets are free for students for the Wednesday, Thurday and Sunday performances. Reservations recommended.

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